the team
I'm Hazel, a qualified teacher with over 30 years of teaching in mainstream and alternative settings. My career has taken me from inner city schools in London, to teaching English as a foreign language in Turkey, to the rolling Devon hills and much in between!
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The Patch Project inception is as a result of spending years working with young people and adults observing the marginalisation of students that struggle with the mainstream setting.
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Our aim is to provide a safe, creative nurturing space for students to develop and grow confidence in life skills. We are currently training in THRIVE. The THRIVE approach is a dynamic, developmental and trauma-sensitive approach to meeting the emotional and social needs of children and young people. Our team is comprised and qualified teachers from a variety of backgrounds and volunteers who have a range of skills to share.
Hazel
Founder & Lead Teacher at The Patch Project
sarah
Qualified Teacher & DofE Leader
I am an enthusiastic, experienced teacher with over 35 years’ experience teaching in schools in Devon and Berkshire and working as an Alternative Provision tutor. I am passionate about removing barriers to learning and making learning active and relevant. Through many years’ involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh award I am a strong advocate for outdoor learning as a tool for educating the whole child. In my spare time I love sea swimming and hiking. I also enjoy reading and travelling and am currently attempting to learn Swedish.
Kat
Assistant Tutor & Art Teacher
I have a Degree from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, in which I specialised in jewellery and metal work.
I then worked for Devon County Council for a number of years as a Life Drawing Teacher before deciding to run classes privately which I have been doing now for 23 years.
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I am also involved in Sidmouth School of Art in which we go round various primary and secondary schools doing art projects, which often are relate to their local environment.​ We also participate in Seafest , a local festival once a year in which we offer numerous Art and craft activities based on the sea.
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Nothing makes me happier than doing art, the creative process is very therapeutic to me, but I also love been involved in group projects, especially with young people who bring such enthusiasm, energy and imagination to their creations.
I'm Emily, a qualified Yoga teacher with a love of the outdoors and adventure.
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After previously working with both young people and in adult mental health, I truly believe that connecting with nature, and exploring the edges of our comfort zones through outdoor activities (no matter how big or small) are key elements in empowering young people to realise their capabilities.
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I am honoured to be part of The Patch Project to connect young people do their adventurous spirits, whilst also supporting with the youth entrepreneurship program "The Patch Pantry".
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“We can best help children learn... by making the world, as far as we can, accessible to them, paying serious attention to what they do, answering their questions and helping them explore the things they are most interested in.” - John Holt
emily
Mentor & Outdoor Education
saskia
Volunteer
I have grown up in the village of Branscombe, surrounded by friendly people and flourishing nature. I have always been passionate about conservation and being in the midst of wildwoods and seas, however my adventure has taking me on a different path of helping vulnerable people. My first experience was when I was 16, I travelled to Botswana, Africa to build a school with my local Scout group for the children in the town of Maun. Having a place they could learn and improve their education was a blessing for the children and community. Since then, I have volunteered in many different countries offering aid and support to children and families, through charities and programs. One of my fondest experiences was in Marrakech, Morocco where I was volunteering in an orphanage teaching young children 5+ Maths and English.